Bayer Leverkusen are under pressure following a disappointing opening day defeat in the Bundesliga. The team coached by Carles Martínez lost 3-2 at newly-promoted Elversberg and now must produce a response in their first home game of the season against Union Berlin on Saturday.
The loss in Elversberg raised questions that need quick answers. Leverkusen sit in 14th place with 0 points after one match and have already conceded three goals. Their goal difference stands at minus one. They are already three points behind league leaders Bayern München.
The trip to Bundesliga newcomers Elversberg ended in a bitter 3-2 defeat for Bayer Leverkusen. Despite goals from Patrik Schick and new signing Christian Kofane for Die Werkself, it wasn't enough. Head coach Carles Martínez was clear in his analysis of the weaknesses. "The defeat at Elversberg showed how quickly Leverkusen can be punished when their structure breaks down," the Spaniard said. The team played without the injured Robert Andrich, which weakened the defensive setup. The newly-promoted side celebrated a historic victory in their very first Bundesliga match.
Squad planning for the clash with Union Berlin is underway. The good news is the return of Robert Andrich, who is an option for selection. A negative update concerns new signing Guéla Doué. The defender is ruled out and will not make his Bundesliga debut in this match. Another comeback story is that of Moussa Diaby. The 27-year-old winger returned to Bayer Leverkusen after two seasons with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. In his previous spell, Diaby made 172 competitive appearances, scoring 49 goals and providing 50 assists. The current squad list shows the available options.
The opponents from the capital arrive in Leverkusen with a point from a thrilling 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. The late equaliser for Union was scored by Tim Skarke. "Rescuing a point through Tim Skarke's late equaliser after a dramatic contest," the attacker described the situation. For Union, goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow is also back in contention after recovering from injury. A historical hurdle remains for the Berliners: Since their promotion to the top flight, they have never won a Bundesliga match away at the BayArena. The current standings table shows both teams in the lower mid-table region.
The club invested heavily in the squad during the summer transfer window, reshaping the team around their new coach. The opening day defeat was a setback. The next challenge is already on the horizon with an away game at currently third-placed FC Augsburg on September 12th. The full schedule can be viewed on our fixtures page. The team now needs to find stability to avoid falling further behind. The defence, which conceded three goals in Elversberg, is a key area for Martínez to address before Saturday's home game.
